Voting booth assembly



1, 1944-v w.- R. DOUGLAS ET AL v 7 2,354,743

VOTING B OOTH ASSEMBLY Aug. 1, 1944. R DOUGLAS ET AL 2,354,743

VOTING BObTH ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 29, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IO! 18 L 45 I00 Fig. 8

|a I ilk 45 INVENTORS William H. Doug/as 9 9 BY I Wallace 1?. Douglas AIITORNE frame construction and. specifically for securing the shelves;

Patented Aug. 1, 1944 2,354,743 VOTING BOOTH ASSEMBLY Wallace R. Douglas an William H. Douglas,

Crete, Nebr. Application January 29, 1942, Serial No. 428,726

9 Claims.

The present invention is concerned with voting booths and more particularly voting booths of the collapsible type.

In the Patent No. 1,514,038,,issued to Elizabeth J. Douglas on November 4, 1924, there is disclosed,

an arrangement of collapsible voting booths wherein there is one master booth and a plurality of annex booths, each booth having an individual shelf on which the voter may write.

The booths are designed so that after the elec-;

tion is over, they may be collapsed into a relatively small space and stored until the next election.

A general object of the present invention is to provide improved voting booths of the general type disclosed in the above mentioned Douglas Patent No. 1,514,038.

More specifically, an object of'the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement for supporting the shelves of the booths whereby the shelves may be more easily assembled and less material is needed in connection with the shelf supporting means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a more secure means and the annex booths together. I

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a generally simplified frame construction for'the voting booths in which the'number of exposed members is reduced to a minimum.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying specification, claims, and drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly including one of our master booths and two annex booths;

Figure 2 is a view showing a portion of the the manner of'interconnecting two booths; I

Figure 3 is a top plan view of 'one of the joints between two booths; t

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view with portions broken away, of the rear portion of "the series of booths, the sectional view being on a considerably larger scale and being taken at such an angle as toshoW the construction of the means Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line.5-.6 of Figure 4 with a portion of the curtain broken away;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectionalview of one of the shelves, the section being takenalong the line 11 of Figure 4; I

for interlocking the master their inner extremities.

of standard l5,

20, 2| and 22, 23 and Figure 8 is an elevational view of a portion of the frame and showing more specifically the improved means for bracing the uprights employed in the booth construction; and

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the portion of the bracing construction shown in Figure 8.

Referring more specifically tothe drawings, the master booth is generally indicated by the reference numeral In and the annex booths by the reference numerals H and I2. The master booth I!) has four upright standards l5, l6, l1, and I 8. These standards are shown as made of angle iron. The four upright standards l5 to l8 are connected together by a plurality of pairs of pivoted links. At the upper end, there are four pairs of pivoted links, one pair connecting each two upright standards. is no connection across the front so that there are only three pairs of pivoted links. at the upper end have been designated by the reference numerals l9 and 20, 2| and 22, 23 and 24 and 25 and 26. It will be noted that links l9 and 23 are pivotally secured to the upper end of standard 15, links 24 and 2| to the upper end links 22 and 25 to the upper end of standard l1, and links 20 and 26 to the upper end of standard It. The pairs of links l9 and 24, and 25 and 26 are pivotally connected together. It is obvious that when they are free to move, they can all be folded downwardly so as to permit the entire frame to be collapsed into a relatively compact form. Assooiated with each link is an angularly extending brace member. The brace members in connection with the links l9 and 20 have been designated by the reference numerals 28 and 29. The lower end of each of these brace members is pivoted to the corresponding standard. The upper end is slotted to provide a hook portion adapted to hook over a pin projecting from the link with which it is associated. This is best shown in Figure 2 in which the pins have been designated by the reference numerals 33 and 32 and the hooks by the reference numerals 35 and 36. 4s

The brace construction for each of the other pairs of links is exactly the same and will be not further described. Furthermore, this portion of the construction is identical to that disclosed in the aforesaid Douglas Patent No. 1,514,033 and hence does not, in itself, constitute part of the novelty of this application,

The lower portions of standards l6 and I! are connected together by a pair of links 38 and 39 .which are pivotally connected to each other at Pivotally associated At the lower end, there The links with the upright standards l6 and I! are braces 40 and M which hook with links 38 and 39. The standards 15 and I6 are connected by a pair of links 42 and 43 and the standards I! and I8 by a pair of links 44 and 45. The pairs of links 42 and 43 and 44 and 45 are different from the previously described pairs of links in that they do not require angularly extending braces such as braces 40 and 4!. The construction of these links is best shown in Figures 7 and 8 and will be discussed later.

Each annex booth includes only two upright standards and relies for its support on two standards of the preceding and the annex booth 12 standards each case, the standards are of angle iron construction and are substantially the same in dimensions as standards l5 to It. Pivotally con nected to standards 41 and 48 are three links 52, 53, and 54. If desired, these links may each in turn be formed of two links pivoted at their inner ends as with links I9 and 20. This is not essential, however, with the annex booths. Each of these links 52 to 54 is adapted to have hooked therewith a pair of angularly extending braces. In each case, one of these braces is carried by the standard of the annex booth and the opposite brace by the adjacent standard of the preceding booth. Thus, referring specifically to link 53, this link is supported in position by braces 55 and 56. The brace 55 is pivotally connected to standard 48 and brace 56 to standard l8 of booth Ill. Each of these braces 55 and 56 has a hook at its upper end which is designed to engage with a pin carried by the link 53. It is believed from the foregoing description thatthe constructionof the braces of links 52 and 54 is obvious. In any event, this constructionis similar to that described in the aforementioned Douglas patent to which reference'may be had for a fuller understanding of the details of the construction. Whilethe detailed construction of vthefrarne work of booth "l2 isshown, it is to it is identical in every rebe understood that spect to that of booth H.

,Booth II is secured to annex booth III by securing links 52 and 54to the adjoining links of booth l0. 1 Thus, link 53 is secured to link 2l l, link 52 to link 22, and feature of the present invention is the rigid manner in which these links are secured together. Referring specifically to Figures 2 and 3, it is to benoted that a connecting member 59 is secured to the left handv end of link 53. This connecting member is rigidly secured asby spot welding,

booth. Thus, the annex booth H includes upright standards 41 and 48' 49 and 5B. In

link 54 to link 39. A novel rivets, or the like. This connecting member has a slot 60 which is relatively narrow over a substantial portion of its length and terminates at its right hand end in a large opening. A headed stud BI is secured to the standard l8 and serves to pivotally connect the brace 20 to standard l8. The stem portion of the stud is adapted to extend through the slot 50. The head of the stud isof such size that it will pass only through the enlarged right 'ha'ndlehdiof the slot. A locking member 62 is pivotally secured to the connecting member 59, this locking member being shown in its I raised position in. Figure 2. The locking member 62 is provided with a slot 63 designed to straddle the stemof 'the stud 6| when the stud BI is in the left hand narrow end of slot 69. In assembling the annex section with the master section, the link 53 is manipulated before brace 56 is secured thereto, so that the stud 6| passes writing surface. turned down to provide a flange ll. By'reason in position to step through the enlarged right hand end of slot 60. Link 53 is then pulled to the right so that the stud assumes a position in the left hand end of slot 60. When this is done, it is now possible to hook brace 55 over its associated pin on link 53. The locking member 62 is now swung downwardly into the position shown in Figure 1 in which stud BI is within the slot 63. With the locking member in this position, the link 53 is held rigidly with respect to link 20. It is to be noted that link 53 is held rigidly with respect to link 20 both by the action of brace 56 and by the action of locking member 62.

' A curtain of canvas or similar material is provided in connection with each booth. One curtain 65 is employed to cover the two sides and the back of the master booth Ill. The curtain is desirably secured to the top by any suitable means such as hooks (not shown). Each annex booth has a curtain which covers the back and the side farthest away from the master booth. Thus, curtain 66 starts at the standard H, extends across the back, covers the right hand side, and is finallysecured to standard 48. Similarly, there is a curtain 61 for booth l2. As evident from Figure 1, the curtains extend down only to the lower links. A further curtain is secured to the front of each booth. This curtain is shown 30" only in connection with booth l2 and is indishelves with respect to the booths is indicated in Figure 1 while the manner in which the shelves are mounted is best indicated in Figures 4 to '7. Referring to Figure 4, in which the intermediate portions of the shelves are broken away, the

shelves are indicated by the reference numerals 12, I3, and 14. Only shelves l2 and T3 are visible in Figure 1. Each shelf is formed of sheet metal. As best indicated in Figure '7, the main portion 10 of the shelf is relatively flat so as to provide a The edges of the shelf are of the turned down flange, the shelf is relatively rigid and'free of any sharp edges.

With an arrangement such as just described in which there are only two upright standards for each annex booth, it is obvious that it is impossible to support the shelf completely from the standards of the annex booth and provide a rigid structure. This is the case because the standards of the annex booth are adjacent only one end of the shelf and any attempt to support the shelves from this one end would result in them being insecurely supported. As a result, it is necessary to support one end only of the shelf in each annex booth from one of the standards of that booth and to support the other end from the standard in the adjacent booth. This is accomplished in the previously mentioned Douglas patent by an arrangement which necessitated the provision of three pivoted angularly extending brackets in the master booth and two in each annex booth. Furthermore, as will be evident from areference to that patent, it was necessary after partially placing a shelf of the annex booth around into the previous booth and hook one of these angular braces to a pin carried by the shelf of the annex booth. The

standards I6 and cured to the same two' standards. In otherpresent invention provides a much simpler arrangement for supporting these shelves;

Each shelf has secured to it three'ears, each with a downwardly facing slot, and one stud. These ears are indicated by the reference'numerals 16, 11, and 18. Each of these ears is secured at its inner end to the flange H of the shelf and is bent so as to extend outwardly and then again parallel to the flange so as to provide a portion parallel to the flange but spaced therefrom. In this portion, a downwardly extending slot 19 is provided (Figure The ears 16 and 11 extend parallel to the flange at the right hand end of the shelf and the ear 18 parallel to the rear flange. A headed stud 80 projects inwardly from the standard I6. The stem of this stud is adapted to extend into the downwardly extending slot of ear 11 and to support ear 11 and thus support the rear left hand corner of shelf 12. In this connection reference is made to Figure 5. A headed stud 8I also projects inwardly from angle iron I1 in such a position as to cooperate with the slot of ear 18. In the case of both studs 80 and 8I, the head of the stud slides in between the ear and the adjoining portion of flange H. A bracket 84 is pivotally secured by a pivot pin 85 to the standard I6. The lower end of bracket 84 carries an inwardly projecting headed stud 86, the stem of which is adapted to extend into the down turned slot in ear 16. As will be pointed out later, this bracket is provided only in connection with the master booth I0.

At the front right hand corner of each shelf, a stud 88 is secured. This stud is relatively long and is adapted to extend through a grometted opening 89 into the next booth II. A bracket 98' is pivotally secured at 9! to the standard I1. The lower end of bracket 90 is provided with a slot 92 to form a hook portion adapted to extend over the stem of stud 88.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the four corners of the shelf 12 are supported by the studs 80 and 8| secured to the I1 and by braces 84 and 90 sewords, the four corners of the shelf are supported from the two rear standards I6 and I1. As previously pointed out, there is only one rear standard in the'annex booth so that it is necessary to support one end of each annex booth shelf by a standard in the adjoining booth. This construction will now be described.

As previously explained, the stud 88 extends through. the grommet 89 into the booth II. The ear 1B of shelf stem of-this stud in the sam manner as ear 16 is hooked over stud 86in'booth I0. Thus, the left front corner of shelf 13 is supported directly from shelf 12, the adjacent corner of which is supported by the bracket 90.

Extending outwardly from the upright standard I1 is a headed stud I34. This stud extends through a grommet 95in the curtain 65 so as to extend into booth II. The ear 11 of shelf. 13 hooks over this stud. Thus, the left rear corner of shelf 13 is supported from the standard I1 by means of the stud 94. The standard 41 is provided with a headed stud 96 which is adapted to engage in the slot of ear 18 of shelf 13. Pivotally secured to the standard 41 is a-bracket 91 corresponding in location and function to bracket 90. This bracket is adapted to hook over and support stud 88 of shelf 13. I From the above it will be seen that the shelf 13 is adapted to hook over the 13 is supported at its right hand end directly by -very much easier to'assemble.

.eral, while we have shown aspecific the standard 41 in the same manner as the right hand end of shelf 12 of the master booth is supported by standard I1. The left hand; end? of shelf 13 is, however, supported by standard -II. The means for supporting theleft hand end of the shelf from the standard I1 includes two members which project through the curtain of the master booth. This permits the operation of applying shelf 13 to be done entirely from within the booth I I. In the previously mentioned Douglas patent, the left hand front end of the shelf II carries a pin which projects back into the master booth and which engages with a second pivoted bracket corresponding to bracket 90. This necessitates inserting the pin through the opening in the curtain and then in reaching around into the otherbooth and hooking the bracket over the pin. Furthermore, this type of arrangement necessitates the use of an extra bracket which is avoided by the present arrangement. This bracket added to the expense of the arrangement.

It is believed unnecessary to specifically describe the manner of mounting the shelf 14 of booth I2 as this is the same as in the case of booth I I. In other words, the ear 16 engages with the stud B8 of shelf 13, the ear 11 with the stud 98 carried by standard 41, and the right hand end of the shelf by the standard 49.

As previously indicated, the constructionof links 42 and 43 and 44 and 45 is different from that of the other pairs of pivoted links. The links 44 and 45 are shown in greater detail in Figures 8 and 9. It will be noted that these links are pivoted together by a pivot pin I89 and are pivoted at their opposite ends to standards I1 and I8. The left hand end of link 45 is inclined upwardly and a triangular portion of this end is turned over so as to lie in the path of link 44. This triangular portion is indicated by the reference numeral II. It will be seen that because of this triangular portion I III overlying link 44, it is impossible to move links 44 and 45 downwardly beyond the position shown in Figures 8 and 9. It is possible, however, to fold these links upwardly. As shown, the pivot pin I 88 is slightly below the line extending between the pivots connecting links 44 and 45 to standards I1 and I8. In other words, the links have been moved slightly over center. In this position of the links, any force tending to move standards I1 and I8 together tends to force the links 44 and 45 farther over center, which movement is resisted by the triangular ear IOI. Thus, the booths are made entirely rigid in spite of the absence of the diagonal braces such as braces 40 and. The elimination of braces in connection with the lower side links not only decreases the material which it is necessary to employ but materially improves the appearance of the booths. It is to be noted that it is only the lower braces which would be visible from the exterior of the boo h and his particularly the side braces which would e. visible. By eliminating these braces, the amount of the frame work visible from the exterior is limited to a minimum.

It will he seen-that our'improved voting booths are much'simpler, employ less material, and are While we have shown one master boothand two annex-booths, it will be understood that any number of annex booths may beused. In genembodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that this is for purposes of illustration, and that our in- 4- vn'tionsis limited only by the "scope ,of zth'e appended claims. i -WB claimz 21.2A plurality of voting booths comprising a master booth and one or more annex booths, said master booth'having a frame including upright standards at'each of tworear corners and a shelf which issecured to said rear standards, said annex booths each'including an upright standard at the 'rear'corner most remote from themaster booth and rigidly but detachably conneotedto the adjacent standard of the next booth pro?- ceeding back in the direction of said master booth, a shelf in each annex booth, a partition wall between said booths, extending uninterruptedly from the top thereof to a point below said shelves, means associated with the rear standard of the annex booth for supporting the adjacent end of the shelf, and supporting means for the opposite end of the shelf, said last named means including means detachably supported di-'- rectly from the shelf in the next adjoining booth by an element secured to said last named shelf and projecting through an opening in said wall of approximately the size of said element.

2. A plurality of voting booths comprising a master booth and one or more annex booths, said master booth having a frame including upright standards at each of two rear corners and a shelfwhich is secured to said rear standards, said annex booths each including an upright standard at the rear corner most remote from the master booth and rigidly connected to the adjacent rear standard of the next booth proceeding back in the direction of said master booth, a shelf in each annex booth, a partition wall between said booths extending uninterruptedly from the top thereof to a point below said shelves, means associated with the rear standard of the annex booth for supporting the adjacent end of the shelf, means at the rear opposite corner of the shelf for supporting said corner from the H standard of-the next adjoining booth, and means adjacent the front opposite corner for supporting said corner directly from the shelf in the adjoining booth, each of said two last named means comprising an element projecting through an opening in said wall of approximately the size of said element.

3. A plurality of voting booths comprising a master booth and one or more annex booths, 'said -master booth having a frame of rectangular .cross section including upright standards at each of its four corners and a shelf which is adapted to be secured to the rear pair of standards, each annex'boothincluding 'a pair of upright standards at the corners most remote from the master booth and detachably connected to the adjacent pair of standards of the next booth proceeding back in the direction of said master booth, a curtain between each booth extending uninterruptedly from the top to a point below the level .ofsaid shelf in said master booth, a shelf in each annex booth disposed at the same level as said shelf in said master'booth, means associated with the rear standard of the annex'booth for supporting the adjacent end of theshelf, and supporting means for the opposite end of the shelf, said last named supporting means including means detachably supported directly from the shelf in the adjoining booth by an element secured to said last mentioned shelf and projecting through an opening in said curtain of approxim'at'ely'the size of said element.

-- 14; A plurality of votingbooths comprising a end of the shelf, means at master booth and one or more annex booths, said master booth having a rectangular frame including upright standards at each of its four corners anda shelf which is adapted to be secured-to the rear pair of standards, each annex booth including a pair of upright standards at the corners most remote from the master booth andid'etachably connected to the adjacent pair of standards of the next booth proceeding back in the direction of said master booth, a curtain between each booth extending uninterruptedly from the top to a point below the level of said shelf in said master booth, a shelf in each annex booth, means associated with the rear standard of the annex booth for supporting the adjacent the rear opposite corner of the shelf for supporting said corner from the standard of the next adjoining booth,

and means adjacent the front opposite corner for supporting said corner directly from the shelf in the adjoining booth, each of said two last named means comprising an element projecting through an opening in said curtain of approximately the size of said element.

5. A;p1urality of voting booths comprising a master booth and one or more annex booths, said master booth having a'frame including upright standards at each of two rear corners and a shelf which is secured to said rear standards, said annex booths each including an upright standard at the rear corner most remote from the master boothand'rigidlybut detachably connected to the-adjacent standard of the adjacent booth proceeding back in the direction of said master booth, a shelf in each annex booth, a partition wall between each booth extending uninterruptedly from'the top thereof to a point below said-shelves,- means associated with the rear standard of the annex booth for supporting the adjacent end of the shelf, and supporting means for the opposite end of the shelf, said last named means including a stud secured to the shelf in theadjoining booth and projecting into the annex booth through an opening in said wall of approximately the same area as the cross-sectional area of said stud, and an ear on the shelf of the annex booth adapted to engage saidxstud.

-6. A plurality of voting booths comprising a master booth and one or more annex booths;

5o said-master booth having a frame including upright standards-at each of two rear corners and a shelf which .is secured to said'rear standards;

said annex booths each including an upright :standard at the rear corner most remote from the master-booth rigidly but detachably connected .to the adjacent standard of the next booth proceeding back in the direction of said master -booth; a shelf in each annex booth; a partition wall; between ruptedly from each booth extending .uninterthe top thereof to a point below .said shelves; means associated with the rear standard of the annex booth for supporting the adjacent end of the shelf; and supporting means for the-opposite end of theshelf; said last named means including studs secured to the standard and the shelf of the adjoiningboothand projectin'g through openings approximately the size :of said studs into the annex booth, and ears on theishelf of the annex booth adapted to engage said studs". '1. A plurality of voting booths comprising a =master booth and one or more annex booths, said master booth having a frame including upright "standards at each of two rear corners and a shelf which sis secured to said rear standards, said annex booths each including an upright standard at the rear comer most remote from the master booth and rigidly but detachably connected to the adjacent standard of the next booth proceeding back in the direction of said master booth, a shelf in each annex booth, a partition wall between each booth extending uninterruptedly from the top thereof to a point below said shelves, means associated with the rear standard of the annex booth for supporting the adjacent end of the shelf, and supporting means for the opposite end of the shelf, said last named means including means detachably supported directly from the shelf in the next adjoining booth by an element secured to said last mentioned shelf and projecting through an opening in said wall of approximately the size of said element, the elements of said supporting means for the. shelves for the annex booth and the master booth being such that all of said shelves are identical in construction.

8. A plurality of voting booths, each booth including an upright standard at one rear corner rigidly but detachably connected to the adjacent standard of the next booth proceeding in one direction, a shelf in each of said booths, a partition wall in each booth extending uninterruptedly from the top thereof to a point below said shelves, means associated with the rear standard of each booth for supporting the adjacent end of the shelf, and supporting means for the opposite end of the shelf, said last named means including means detachably supported directly from the shelf in the next adjoining booth by an element secured to said last mentioned shelf and projecting through an opening in said wall of approximately the size of said element.

9. A plurality of voting booths comprising a master booth and one or more annex booths; said master booth having a frame including upright standards at each of two rear corners and a, shelf which is secured to said rear standards; said annex booths each including an upright standard at the rear corner most remote from the master booth rigidly but detachably connected to the adjacent standard of the next booth proceeding back in the direction of said master booth; a curtain between each booth; a shelf in each annex booth; means associated with the rear standard of the annex booth for supporting the adjacent end of the shelf; and supporting means for the opposite end of the shelf; said last named means including studs secured to the standard and the shelf of the adjoining booth and projecting into the annex booth through openings in said ourtain of approximately the same size as said studs, and ears on the shelf of the annex booth adapted to engage said studs, said curtain, except for said openings, extending uninterruptedly from the top of the booth to a point substantially below said shelf.

WALLACE R. DOUGLAS. WILLIAM H. DOUGLAS. 

